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Behind the Facade of Innocence: Talaat Pasha Tracked Progress of
Genocidal Program
08.05.2011 | 15:01 | www.nt.am | Noyan Tapan | Press of Diaspora
(Noyan Tapan - 08.05.2011) MassisPost.com- Recent documents released
in Turkish archives, combined with surviving documents from Talaat's
Pasha's private papers, confirm that Talaat was indeed the architect
of the Armenian Genocide. There is a clear record that he ordered and
supervised the general deportation of Ottoman Armenians in 1915-16,
and that he followed the fate of such deportees from close quarters.
Talaat was sent updates regarding Armenians at different stages of
deportations, as well as information about the fate of others who were
subjected to special treatment. Although a great deal of Ottoman
records still remain unavailable in Turkish archives, the available
records show that the Ottoman deportation thesis was a smokescreen for
the annihilation of Armenians. Ottoman records in Turkish archives, as
well as Talaat's 1917 report, show that less than 100,000 Armenians
survived in the so-called resettlement zone for Armenians. According
to Talaat's report on the Armenian Genocide, most Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire had disappeared between 1915 and 1917, or they were
dispersed in different provinces of the Ottoman Empire for
assimilation. The forced assimilation of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians was indicative of the power, control and purpose of the
Ottoman state.
Talaat Pasha's Report on the Armenian Genocide, 1917 is the closest
official Ottoman view we have of the Armenian Genocide. The report was
undoubtedly prepared for Talaat Pasha and meant for his private use.
It was not meant for publication and probably only survived because
Talaat was assassinated in 1921 and his widow gave the report to a
Turkish historian who eventually published it.* No such record has
been released by Turkish archives to date, though the data presented
in the 1917 report can be checked against the available Ottoman
records and stands scrutiny.
According to Talaat's figures 1,150,000 Armenians disappeared in the
Ottoman Empire between 1915-1917. This number includes well over
100,000 Armenians who fled from the Ottoman Empire in 1915 (and died
in large numbers from hunger, exposure and disease), but it does not
include tens of thousands of Armenian women and children who were
absorbed into Muslim families or placed into state orphanages for
assimilation.
In this publication of Talaat's report on the Armenian Genocide,
historian Ara Sarafian discusses the 1917 report in light of other
Ottoman records. He presents Talaat's statistics in all detail and
includes two invaluable color maps demonstrating the content of the
report, as well as additional Ottoman documents related to the
Armenian Genocide. Sarafian presents Talaat's breakdown of the number
of Armenians, their native provinces, and their whereabouts in the
Ottoman Empire in 1917.
From: A. Papazian
Genocidal Program
08.05.2011 | 15:01 | www.nt.am | Noyan Tapan | Press of Diaspora
(Noyan Tapan - 08.05.2011) MassisPost.com- Recent documents released
in Turkish archives, combined with surviving documents from Talaat's
Pasha's private papers, confirm that Talaat was indeed the architect
of the Armenian Genocide. There is a clear record that he ordered and
supervised the general deportation of Ottoman Armenians in 1915-16,
and that he followed the fate of such deportees from close quarters.
Talaat was sent updates regarding Armenians at different stages of
deportations, as well as information about the fate of others who were
subjected to special treatment. Although a great deal of Ottoman
records still remain unavailable in Turkish archives, the available
records show that the Ottoman deportation thesis was a smokescreen for
the annihilation of Armenians. Ottoman records in Turkish archives, as
well as Talaat's 1917 report, show that less than 100,000 Armenians
survived in the so-called resettlement zone for Armenians. According
to Talaat's report on the Armenian Genocide, most Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire had disappeared between 1915 and 1917, or they were
dispersed in different provinces of the Ottoman Empire for
assimilation. The forced assimilation of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians was indicative of the power, control and purpose of the
Ottoman state.
Talaat Pasha's Report on the Armenian Genocide, 1917 is the closest
official Ottoman view we have of the Armenian Genocide. The report was
undoubtedly prepared for Talaat Pasha and meant for his private use.
It was not meant for publication and probably only survived because
Talaat was assassinated in 1921 and his widow gave the report to a
Turkish historian who eventually published it.* No such record has
been released by Turkish archives to date, though the data presented
in the 1917 report can be checked against the available Ottoman
records and stands scrutiny.
According to Talaat's figures 1,150,000 Armenians disappeared in the
Ottoman Empire between 1915-1917. This number includes well over
100,000 Armenians who fled from the Ottoman Empire in 1915 (and died
in large numbers from hunger, exposure and disease), but it does not
include tens of thousands of Armenian women and children who were
absorbed into Muslim families or placed into state orphanages for
assimilation.
In this publication of Talaat's report on the Armenian Genocide,
historian Ara Sarafian discusses the 1917 report in light of other
Ottoman records. He presents Talaat's statistics in all detail and
includes two invaluable color maps demonstrating the content of the
report, as well as additional Ottoman documents related to the
Armenian Genocide. Sarafian presents Talaat's breakdown of the number
of Armenians, their native provinces, and their whereabouts in the
Ottoman Empire in 1917.
From: A. Papazian